SPRINGFIELD - The widow of Effingham County murder victim Carey Heidt - and reported lover of the man charged in his death - is expected to be the first witness today in the third day of the double-murder trial of Craig Heidt, 42.

Robin Heidt is expected in the witness box at 9 a.m. to testify in the case against her brother-in-law, charged with the Aug. 25, 2008, shotgun slayings of his father, Philip Martin Heidt, 59, brother, Carey Heidt, 32, and the shooting of his mother, Linda Heidt. Linda Heidt survived the shooting.

Linda Heidt testified Wednesday that Carey and Robin Heidt were having problems in their marriage due to an extramarital affair between Robin and Craig Heidt.

Craig was arrested in May 2009 for the murders at the family home on Springfield-Egypt Road.

Robin Heidt's expected two to two-and-half-hour testimony was delayed from Thursday after one witness ran long and jurors didn't return from a trip to the crime scene until about 4 p.m.

First on the stand Thursday was Steven Foster, a crime-scene specialist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Foster testified evidence at the crime scene showed one shooter - with a plan - was involved in the shootings at the home.

Foster said there was no indication of multiple shooters when asked about that possibility by defense attorney W. Dow Bonds.

"One person taking three shots is what I see," Foster said.

Foster said in his opinion the assailant had a plan.

"Enter, kill the occupants and burn the home down," Foster said.

Previous law enforcement witnesses have testified to an "overwhelming" smell of gasoline in the home when they arrived at the Heidt home in the early morning hours Aug. 25.

Officials have also testified to slippery floors, wet with gasoline, throughout much of the house.

Foster testified the assailant may have staged the home to look like a different crime was planned.

A door off the carport had a broken window, with a key still inside the interior dead-bolt. The door had a "snug" fitting curtain that would require moving if a person were to reach in a broken window to unlock the door.

"It doesn't appear to have been moved," Foster said.

Foster also showed jurors a number of crime scene photos, showing cash in plain sight, along with untouched electronics and jewelry, indicating robbery wasn't a motive.

Foster also testified investigators found it interesting they found no spent shotgun cartridges at the scene.

"The person took the time to pick up the shells," he said.

Foster said the shotgun used was a 12-gauge and that each victim, including Linda Heidt, was shot one time.

Bonds questioned Foster on the possibility a shooter could be so accurate and the difficulty of locating spent shells.

"Would they use a laser device?" Bonds asked.

Foster said that wouldn't be needed.

"Aim at the head and pull the trigger," Foster said.

Finding the shells wouldn't be hard either, Foster said.

"After you shoot three people you turn on a light. It's not a difficult feat."

Both Foster and the day's second witness, Dr. Jamie Downs, coastal regional medical examiner, testified Craig and Philip Heidt were shot at an intermediate range, both within one to one-and-half feet.

Downs, who performed autopsies on both the father and son, said both died from single shotgun wounds. The wounds were to the face.

Downs also testified Carey Heidt was shot first.

Downs said an abrasion on Philip Heidt's hand, along with a hole in his bed sheet with soot from gun powder, and blood on the headboard, indicated Philip heard the shot that killed his son.

"Philip was rousing from the first blast, stirring when he was shot," Downs said.

Downs testified Philip Heidt rose his head slightly and was holding the sheet when he was shot.

ON THE WEB: Go to effinghamnow.com to watch testimony from the GBI medical examiner plus the previous day's testimony from Linda Heidt and watch a live stream from the courtroom.